More than one million motorists - an average of 62, 816 per year - from
countries as far afield as Zimbabwe
(37,515) and South Korea (13,368) have
exchanged their foreign licences for a UK driving licence in the last 15
years, according to official Freedom of Information act (FOI) figures
obtained by Cheap Car Insurance Provider, swiftcover.com.

The number of licences exchanged per year peaked at 96,935 in 2007,
before falling to 79,187 in 2009. Over the past three years, the number has
risen steadily once again, reaching 83,553 in 2011. This compares to a
total of 30,737 licences exchanged in 1997; 46,497 in 2001 and 68,625 in
2004. Almost half of these licences swapped since 1997 have been gained in
a country where the driving test doesn't include driving on the left.

Currently, reciprocal agreements exist whereby the UK recognises the
driving licences awarded to drivers by 50 other countries, meaning that
driving licences issued in these countries can be exchanged after 12 months
of residency for a UK licence without the holder needing to pass any UK
test. 32 of the 50 approved countries drive on the right, including South Korea, Romania and Poland.

Robin Reames, chief claims officer at
Swiftcover, commented: "These figures reflect Britain's multi-cultural society demonstrating
that we are welcoming an increasing number of motorists to our shores who
are choosing to live and drive here. However, UK roads are very different
to those overseas so it's vital that new motorists learn as much as they
can, which could include taking a few lessons from an instructor if
necessary."

Since 1997, drivers from South Africa
(average of 9,369 per year) and Australia
(average of 6,441 per year) accounted for the highest number of licences
exchanged with 149,897 and 103,053 respectively. However, as more countries
entered the EU in 2004, allowing licences to be exchanged from eastern
European countries, Polish (135,079 - average of 8,442 per year), Bulgarian
(18,719) and Hungarian (21,714) motorists are actively exchanging their
licences. 88,361 Polish drivers exchanged their licence for a UK version in
the five years between 2004 and 2008.

The data goes on to reveal that on average each year since 1997, 2,334
drivers exchanged Japanese licences, 2,895 drivers exchanged Hong Kong licences and 836 drivers exchanged
South Korean licences for full UK permits. Research carried out by the BBC
in February 2012 highlighted a scam where
drivers obtained a UK driving licence by exploiting the arrangement that
the UK has with Hong Kong - which saw more
than 6,000 exchanged every year for the past five years, even though the
average is much lower.

Agreements also exist with some African countries: 953 Zimbabwean
licences were exchanged in 2011, down from 1,282 in 2010 and a peak of
6,168 in 2002. The UK's agreement with Kenya was suspended in 2002 then later
reinstated, resulting in 242 Kenyan licences being exchanged in the early
part of 2012.

Robin Reames continued: "While the fact
that the UK recognises licences issued in certain countries shows that
driving tests in those countries are likely to be of a high standard, it's
important to recognise that driving in the UK is unique in many ways. As
such, it's important for everyone planning to drive in the UK to take the
time to become familiar with UK road signs and speed limits, as well as
driver etiquette - exactly as British motorists should when driving
abroad."

Nick Perry, driving instructor at Bristol-based Oasis Driving School, commented:
"People who learned to drive abroad will often face difficulties driving in
the UK. The obvious differences include driving on a different side of the
road and new signs and speed limits, but there are also more subtle
differences such as etiquette on the road that seem obvious to us, but are
extremely important.

"I've taught a range of drivers who have originally learned to drive
outside the UK, some of whom have settled in with no problems and others
who've needed a little help. It's a good idea for anyone new to UK roads to
take a short lesson or two with an approved driving instructor in order to
be on the safe side."

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